sincity

OpenRockethttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png OpenRocket is a strangely addictive spacecraft simulator that lets you design your own rocket from nosecone to tail fins. Once you've finished, OpenRocket launches it into simulated space and shows you how it performs in the air. Why you need itIt might be rocket science, but building your own spacecraft is straightforward and fun. Just select and add components (internal and external), then adjust options such as size and shape. There are helpful notes to explain any particularly esoteric terms. Once you're confident that your creation is spaceworthy, OpenRocket will simulate its flight, giving you real-time details of its altitude, velocity and acceleration. The simulation is extremely detailed, and you can see the effect of each of your choices on its performance. OpenRocket is brilliant fun, and completely free. Download it today and give it a try! Download here: OpenRocket http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/EgzYO-YaFao

Synthesiahttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png Synthesia is a brilliant little game for Windows that works much like Guitar Hero, but for the piano. It's fully customizable, and can be used just for fun, or as a real training tool. Select a song and Synthesia will highlight each key you need to hit in order to play it. You can play using your ordinary PC keyboard, or attach a MIDI keyboard if you're interested in learning to play properly (or you have one gathering dust in the garage). Why you need itSynthesia lets you play with one hand or both, and there are specific options for practicing the melody (with the song pausing until you hit the right note), the rhythm (with the song moving on at a constant speed), or a full recital (one playthrough at full speed). At the end of each attempt you're awarded points for your performance. The free edition of Synthesia comes with a set of songs of varying difficulty levels, and you can buy a key to unlock more if you want more of a challenge. Download here: Synthesia http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/hd4GSvgnkIM

The way you install Windows has changed forever, because you can now use your voice to help set up Windows 10. This can be done either with a clean install you’re performing yourself, or on a new PC you’ve just purchased and are firing up for the first time. Yes, Cortana has been introduced to the operating system’s initial setup process with the Creators Update – which has been available to install manually since the middle of the week. Now, you can save wear and tear on that mouse or keyboard, listen to the digital assistant prompt you, and vocalize your selection of options during setup. There are a couple of things to note here: firstly, using Cortana is optional. From the off, you can tell the assistant to shut up if you wish, and handle things the old-fashioned way. Secondly, not every option can be dictated by voice. As Windows Central notes, more complicated menus still require selections to be made with an input peripheral. For example, the new privacy settings, which involve multiple sliders and a good deal of explanation text, must be handled with a mouse or keyboard (or your touchscreen, if you have one). But, if you want Cortana’s guidance and help a good deal of the time during the setup process, it’s there. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wVjmhpLRSVtSqJz8aJxGTb.jpg Image Credit: Windows CentralConvivial CortanaWhile the idea of a Cortana-assisted installation will doubtless make some users shake their heads, there are less tech-savvy folks out there who will more than likely benefit from the help. And, perhaps more importantly, a feeling of talking to their computer rather than battling with it could create an overall less intimidating vibe to Windows setup. Microsoft has big plans for Cortana, and in the grand scheme of things, wants the virtual assistant not just on your PC, but also on all manner of devices across the smart home. So, Cortana will help you set up most of the best computers of 2017http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/I_HWdNdilZw

XnRetrohttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png XnRetro is a fun and easy way to give ordinary photos an old-school twist. This is no simple Instagram-alike, though. In addition to 20 fully adjustable vintage filters, XnRetro also includes a set of great looking lighting effects, vignettes, and borders to tinker with, and you can customize each setting to create a unique look. It's surprisingly addictive, and the results are fantastic. Why you need itXnRetro's special lighting effects include light leaks, which simulate the effect of light getting into the body of a traditional film camera. There's also bokeh, which transforms points of light into discs, and a tool that simulates the effect of surface scratches on an old print. Vignette effects darken the edges of the image – again, recreating the effect of an old analog camera – and color adjustments simulate the look of different kinds of film. XnRetro is very easy to use, produces great results, and is a great way to jazz up this year's Christmas photos before sharing them online. Download here: XnRetro http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/UhxPvY4VSmE

In the ever-competitive smart speaker wars, Google may soon have a new entrant to take on the likes of Amazon Echo, giving you thorough in-home Wi-Fi coverage to boot. The search giant is apparently pondering an updated Google Home that features "built-in mesh Wi-Fi networking", according to The Information, speaking to a person with knowledge of Google's plot. Google Home 2, as we'll call it, would essentially be aping the core feature of the Google Wifi router, delivering a one-two punch of smart speaker assistant and in-home internet service in a single package. This we can get behind: we liked Google Wifi for its simple set-up and capable coverage so much, we gave it an Editor's Choice rating in our review. And Google Home is no slouch; though it's still got a long way to go, it's already an impressive helper backed by Google Assistant that will only get better with time. Priced right?However, a big question on the rumored device is how much one – or multiple – will cost. Let us explain: while a single Wifi puck sells for $129 (£129, around AU$167), you need more than one to make a mesh. A trio of Google Wifi retails for $299 (about AU$389), and in the UK two units are sold for £229. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/678379879d7738a4564b290d1840f54f.jpg Google Wifi routersGoogle Home, meanwhile, costs $129 (£129, around AU$170). The new Google Home 2 price could already be higher if it offers more features (such as voice calling and multiple user support), and if you need more than one to create a Wi-Fi network, you could be forking over quite a bit. Google is generally price conscious with its products, so an exorbitant amount isn't likely. Still, the price of more than one Google Home 2 could give users pause before purchasing, especially considering Amazon Echo is still only $179 (£150, around AU$230). If a Google Home 2 with Wi-Fi is in the works, chances are we'll see it at May's Google IO 2017 developer conference, with it going on sale soon after. Via 9to5Google The best cheap Amazon Echo deals this monthhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/be3uJv-CWFg

Ahead of the Creators Update, which will officially begin to roll out next week, Microsoft has opened up even further about Windows 10 and privacy. The company has published full details of the diagnostic data collected by the OS when telemetry is set to the ‘basic’ level. Yes, this is Microsoft taking another step in coming clean regarding the data it collects from users’ PCs, addressing previous accusations of a lack of transparency in terms of the details Windows 10 pipes back to the software giant’s servers. So, to make things clear, Microsoft has published an exhaustive list of all the data Windows 10 relays back to the mothership when diagnostic data collection is set to ‘basic’ (which is one of two options, the other being ‘full’). And, boy, is it exhaustive – it’s tiring just scrolling through the thing, let alone reading it. Have a look for yourself here, if you’re brave enough. In practice, to the average user, this sprawling point-by-point breakdown won’t mean much, and won’t be particularly useful. But the point, really, is that Microsoft is happy to lay its cards out on the table, so those with a deep interest in Windows 10 privacy issues can see what’s going on under the hood. In the blog post outlining all this, Terry Myerson, EVP of the Windows and Devices Group, noted that, on a broader level, Microsoft's "commitment to you is that we only collect data at the basic level that is necessary to keep your Windows 10 devices secure and up to date.” What about those with diagnostics on full? He further explains: “For customers who choose the full level, we use diagnostic data to improve Windows 10 for everyone and deliver more personalized experiences for you where you choose to let us do so.” Microsoft hasn’t, however, provided a complete list of everything collected for those who are running with the full setting. Although the company has provided a broad overview of the types of diagnostic data collected with this option (perhaps on the grounds that an exhaustive list would have taken them until the end of the year to compile). Clear signalSo, the upshot of all this? It’s clearly another signal that Microsoft wants to shed the image of being at fault on the privacy front, even if the actual information revealed isn’t going to be all that interesting to the average Joe or Jane. That said, there will doubtless be folks out there who want another option apart from ‘basic’ or ‘full’ when it comes to diagnostic data hoovering – and that would be ‘none’. That’s not likely to happen, though. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sMjfsPUc7uMTpMC4Du7Egh.jpg As you may be aware, with the Creators Update, Microsoft has already made some big changes to Windows 10’s installation process, highlighting privacy settings more clearly, and giving the user simple sliders to turn off elements such as usage of location data or targeted ads. The screen shown above is where you’ll choose between basic or full diagnostic data, with the default being the former. Despite this move, back in February, EU data protection bigwigs told Microsoft it still wasn’t doing enough with privacy, and that the company needed to clearly explain what kinds of personal data are processed, and to what end. And this blog post is a direct reaction to that demand, as Myerson notes: “This feedback – in line with the feedback we have received from the European Union’s Article 29 Working Party and national data protection authorities that have specifically engaged us on Windows 10 – was essential for Microsoft to identify and implement improvements in our privacy practices.” Although we’re not sure that the EU authorities were really asking for a point-by-point list, but rather, more useful and detailed clarifications given to the user in the installation process. Still, the full details and transparency shown here will no doubt be welcome in Europe (and elsewhere, for that matter). One final thing: it’s not just those running with a fresh installation of Windows 10 who will get the benefit of the new privacy settings being introduced with the Creators Update. Anyone upgrading to this version will also be presented with a slightly different menu – but featuring the same simple sliders – allowing them to review their privacy settings. How to fix Windows 10 privacy issues right nowhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/a4QsAkJ6oo4

If you're looking for a video editor there are some amazing free tools around, but they're not always the best choice. Developing a good editor is so difficult that even big-name companies often struggle, and if you're a demanding user it's unlikely that a free package will give you everything you need. We're not just talking about the length of the feature list. Opting for a paid product might get you high-end extras like 360-degree video support, motion tracking and multi-cam editing, but that's just the start. The extra resources available to commercial projects help to refine the entire package, often bringing more accurate and configurable effects, an enhanced interface and a faster rendering engine. Which paid editor is the best choice, though? That depends on what you're looking to do, and also on your budget, but keep reading – we've come up with 25 top packages to help steer you in the right direction. We’ve also highlighted the best video editing software and best laptops for video editingAdobe Premiere Elements is a slimmed-down consumer version of the company's Premiere Pro CC video editor, dropping some of its heavyweight fine-tuning in favour of simplicity and automation. The program workflow will be familiar to anyone who's ever used another video editor. Import your media here, organise them on a timeline there, apply effects and get a quick preview of the results – you know the drill. Where Elements wins out is in its extras. This starts with doing some things better – for example, your media library isn't just a collection of files, it's intelligently organised and benefits from smart searches. Drag clips towards each other in the timeline and they conveniently snap together. Video stabilisation, de-hazing and smart toning do a great job of enhancing your footage all on their own, but also allow manual adjustments if you think it'll help. There are features you won't often find elsewhere, too. Face detection, video collages, using the colours and textures of one clip in another, bundled movie soundtracks which automatically adjust their length to match your footage, and an excellent collection of audio effects to join the program’s video filters. Adobe’s Guided Edit feature provides step-by-step help with many of the more advanced tools, and there are lots of interesting automated features. Premiere Elements doesn't quite match the power of big-name competitors like CyberLink PowerDirector, but you may still prefer it for ease of use, and we'd recommend taking the trial for a spin. Platform: Windows, Mac Price: £60 ($75) You can buy Adobe Premiere Elements hereAdobe Premiere Pro CC is the industry standard video editor for professionals, the big brother of the aforementioned Premiere Elements, and it’s now used by everyone from experienced prosumers to TV and film studios. The core of the package is much like other non-linear video editors, with familiar project and asset panels, timeline, a preview window and more. But it's also highly configurable, and now includes touch support in some areas for extra flexibility. It doesn't take long to spot the program's power. Premiere Pro imports footage from everywhere – files, tapes, direct from smartphones, regular or professional cameras, 360-degrees VR footage and more – and it can import and export projects from Final Cut Pro (X) and Avid Media Composer. Premiere Pro doesn't just support multi-cam editing: it handles as many sources as you need, with an unlimited number of angles, and can automatically sync them via time-code, audio and more. The bundled Lumetri Colour Panel offers comprehensive tools for colour manipulation, audio adjustments, and fine-tuning of effects with Bezier keyframing, and on completion your masterpiece can be rendered to multiple formats or device profiles in a single job. Home users won't need this level of power or the monthly bill (check out Premiere Elements instead), and professionals might prefer Apple's Final Cut Pro X in some situations, but overall Adobe Premiere Pro CC is hard to beat. Platform: Windows, Mac Price: From £20 ($25) a month (individuals) You can buy Adobe Premiere Pro CC hereAnimoto is a simple online service which takes source videos and pictures, automatically adapts them to fit your chosen style, and exports some (occasionally) very professional results. The website is mostly just a video creator and has minimal editor-type functions, but we're including it anyway because presenting your footage is a very important consideration for some users. Animoto has simple iOS and Android apps, but you'll get the best results by accessing it from the website. That's where you can import your media, set a style, and choose a soundtrack (even the base account gives you 500 tracks to choose from). You can then customise each element, add your own captions and text, and share the results over email, Facebook, Twitter and more. The service is a little expensive for the casual user, but if you'll make use of Animoto regularly it might be worth a look. If you're interested, the company offers a 14-day trial of the Pro plan, which offers everything we've described here and a lot more. Platform: Web, iOS, Android Price: From £8 ($10) a month (paid annually) You can buy Animoto hereAvid has been developing film and video editing tech since 1989, and its Avid Media Composer package has been the main player in the film and TV industry for more than 20 years. It's been used everywhere from massive cinema titles like Star Wars: The Force Awakens and The Martian, to the HD visuals of games such as Squadron 42 (the single player campaign of Star Citizen). Developing software for this kind of high-end expert audience has its consequences. Media Composer is far more about functionality than ease of use, so although the interface has improved recently, it may still not appeal to the average user. And of course the price is decidedly premium, too. That's really no surprise, though, for a package which can import just about anything, in any resolution – and combine them all on the same line, no encoding required. You can make use of dynamic HDR for top-quality imagery. Edit stereoscopic 3D. Mix and work with 64 audio tracks, and the list goes on… That's just the start. Avid Media Composer doesn't just do well at regular features, it adds specialist extras that the competition hasn't even considered. The program doesn't just store your clips, for instance – it can automatically analyse their dialogue and sync it to the script, making it easy to match different takes of a scene. Now that's what we call smart. Platform: Windows, Mac Price: From £47 ($58) per month (annual plan) You can buy Avid Media Composer hereAVS Video Editor is a consumer-oriented program which focuses on ease of use, but still manages to cram in plenty of features and functionality. You only get a single video track, for instance, which will have expert editors heading swiftly for the exit. But you can still drag-and-drop in as many clips as you need, trim them, correct colours, brightness or sharpness, and add some worthwhile special effects (including simple chroma key – also known as green screen). AVS Video Editor takes a similar straightforward approach elsewhere. You can't build credits with custom text objects, each carefully keyframed and with their own motion paths, but the app does give you simple templates which enable adding basic credits with a minimum of hassle. There are plenty of welcome extras, including a slideshow builder and the ability to record your screen, and when you're done the program can export your movie in multiple formats, burn it to DVD and Blu-ray, or share it directly to social media. Platforms: Windows Price: $70 (£87) as a part of AVS suite You can buy AVS Video Editor hereCamtasia Video Editor is an unusual application which combines the company's popular screen recorder with a capable movie editor. It's designed to produce marketing or instructional-type clips which demonstrate some elements of software, but you can also import and work with regular MP4s and other common video formats. This desktop-oriented approach means the core editing tools are quite basic. You can adjust colours, brightness, contrast, apply a simple green screen effect, enhance or correct audio, but there aren't nearly as many options as you'll get with the high-end competition. There is still some power here. Camtasia imports sources from animated GIFs to 4K video, and enables organising these with pictures, audio files, transitions and effects on a multi-track timeline. It can include your webcam with a picture-in-picture effect, and there's a whole library of video assets you can use in your movie: animated backgrounds, icons, intro slides, music tracks and more. Unusual touches include arrows, callouts, shapes and other elements you can drag-and-drop onto the screen. You're able to apply zoom and pan effects, or your own custom varieties, and there's even an option to include quizzes to see who's watching your clips, and what they've viewed. This is aimed at Camtasia's tutorial-creating business audience, but could be used in many other ways. If you're interested, signing up at the site gets you a 30-day tutorial, no restrictions or credit card details required. Platforms: Windows, Mac Price: $199 (£160) You can buy Camtasia Video Editor hereCorel VideoStudio may not be quite as well-known as Adobe Premiere or CyberLink PowerDirector, but don't let that put you off – it's one of the best consumer video editors around. There are high-end features everywhere you look: 4K video support; multi-cam editing; 360-degrees VR video support; royalty-free music library; stacks of professional NewBlue and proDAD effects. Not to mention DVD, AVCHD and Blu-ray authoring for when it's time to share. Corel VideoStudio Ultimate also has plenty of less obvious touches which you only begin to notice as you work. Some are small (checkmarks which highlight clips you've used), some save you time (group objects in your timeline and move or apply effects to all of them at once), and many give you options you might not have seen before (voice detection which can automatically match subtitles to speech in your video). VideoStudio is also available in a marginally cheaper Pro version which has most of the same features, but includes fewer templates, effects and other extras. Check it out if you're on a budget, but Ultimate X10 is already cheap for the functionality you get, and that's the version we would recommend. Platforms: Windows Price: £80 ($100) You can buy Corel VideoStudio Ultimate X10 hereCyberLink PowerDirector is an excellent video editor which delivers professional and high-quality features for a consumer-friendly price. The package has great support for file standards, and can handle 4K video, H.265, XAVC-S, 120/240fps high frame-rate video, FLAC and AAC audio, and more. The latest edition supports 360-degree video, too, and we don't just mean some fixed import. You can also edit the footage, apply colour correction, use titles, transitions, PiP objects and more, and export the 360-degree results. All the action takes place on a 100-track timeline. There are all kinds of stabilisation and video correction tools to give you the look you need, quick and easy trimming, professional effects, assorted NewBlue and other add-ons, and modules for multi-cam editing, motion tracking, title design and a whole lot more. Video editing newbies might find all these options intimidating, at least initially, but PowerDirector does its best to help. The Express Projects feature enables creating professional videos and sharing them on social media with little more than some careful dragging and dropping. And when you're ready to go further, PowerDirector has plenty of help files, video tutorials and other documentation to point you in the right direction. Platforms: Windows Price: £48 ($60) You can buy CyberLink PowerDirector hereDaVinci Resolve Studio is an industrial-strength video colour correction tool and comprehensive video editor with the power to handle any project, right up to blockbuster films and TV shows. The package tramples all over the competition in many areas. You get film quality effects, advanced correction tools (temporal and spatial noise reduction, lens distortion corrections), stereoscopic 3D support, HDR grading, 32-bit processing and multiple GPU support. As you can see from the price, DaVinci Resolve Studio isn't aimed at home users, and it's far more about functionality than being user-friendly. Colour correction isn't restricted to a few sliders and panels here, for instance – it has an interface of its own. Still, this is an amazing editor, and if you're not on Hollywood wages there's a free DaVinci Resolve available. It doesn't have nearly as many effects and can ‘only’ output SD, HD and Ultra HD files, but it’s still a very capable product. Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux Price: $995 (£800) You can buy DaVinci Resolve Studio hereFilmora is an appealing video editor which tries to offer something for everyone, from the total editing novice to experienced prosumers. Beginners will appreciate the ability to import clips directly from social media. A drag-and-drop interface keeps most operations very simple, and fun extras include the ability to import, edit or save clips as animated GIFs. More expert-level features include 4K video support, simple colour corrections, video stabilisation, tilt shift and green screen effects, and an audio equaliser. Filmora doesn't have the depth or the power of the top consumer editors, but there's plenty here for casual users. The price is good, especially for the lifetime licence, although the developer does offer plenty of other ways to spend your money. There's a Filmora store absolutely stuffed with bonus effects packs to take your movies to the next level. Platforms: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android Price: $60 (£48) lifetime licence You can buy Filmora hereFinal Cut Pro X is Apple's answer to Adobe Premiere Pro, a comprehensive video editor which blends highly professional features with prosumer-level ease of use. You could use the program to simply import a couple of source movies from a folder, for instance. But it can also grab media from cameras or DSLRs, organise content into libraries, run searches on metadata, even directly access content from your Photos or iTunes collections. Organising content on the timeline also begins very simply. Drag-and-drop source media and the clips magnetically snap together to avoid unwanted gaps, while others move out of the way to prevent collisions. But there are also plenty of smart extras, including tools to group clips together, apply effects to multiple clips at once, or instantly expand audio files to play with channels, set transitions or adjust volume, directly from the timeline. Final Cut Pro X offers professional tools including multi-cam editing, versatile chroma key effects, intelligent colour balancing and more. Export options are more essentials-only than some of the competition, but a vast ecosystem of add-ons can extend the program to do just about anything you need. Platforms: Mac Price: £300 ($380) You can buy Final Cut Pro X hereHitFilm Pro is an unusual mix of a professional video editor with a compositor. Not only can it load, trim and organise regular clips, you're also able to import, animate and render 3D models, and there's even a physics engine to ensure realism. There are plenty of appealing high-end features. You're able to import and mix footage in many different formats, resolutions (up to 8K) and frame-rates on the same timeline – there's a dedicated trimmer, professional transitions, capable colour grading, 2D and 3D title generation, 360-degree video support, OpenFX plugin support and more. Whatever you're doing can be previewed on a second monitor while you work on the first. HitFilm Pro's focus on compositing means there's still not quite as much video editing power as you'll get elsewhere, and it can be complex to use in some areas, but if you'll use features like the 3D model import it could be interesting. A demo version gives you full access to every feature and will never expire, but has no export option. A limited free HitFilm Express edition will give you an idea of the interface and basic editing features, although export is limited to 1080p at 8-bit pixel depth (HitFilm Pro supports up to 8K UHD at 32-bit pixel depth). Platforms: Windows, Mac Price: £310 ($385) for up to 3 PCs You can buy HitFilm Pro hereAt first, ivsEdits seems much like many other video editors. There's support for importing a range of video types and resolutions, including 4K, a full timeline for layering video and audio assets, along with colour correction, chroma key, and hundreds of top quality keyframe-able effects. What's not-so-usual is the program's support for live footage, as well as pre-recorded media. You're able to add up to four ‘live clips’ and combine them with your regular project assets, for instance, and ivsEdits also supports TV production-like capture and switching signals coming from up to nine cameras, all in real-time. The bundled ivsCapture package gives you more options by enabling footage to be captured in the background, then you can begin to work with clips on your timeline while the footage is still being recorded. If all that sounds too specialist for you, a cut-down free version gives you an idea of the other capabilities of ivsEdits, and it works very well on its own. Platforms: Windows Price: From €495 (£429, $530) You can buy ivsEdits hereMost mobile video editing apps are underpowered disappointments, but KineMaster is a rare exception which delivers far more than you might expect. The app doesn't just organise individual video clips, for example. You can have multiple layers to add unlimited handwriting, text, or layers of images and stickers, or indeed even another layered video on some hardware. There are up to four audio tracks available, and each one can contain as many clips as you need. Precision matters, so it's good to see that KineMaster enables frame-level video and sub-frame audio trimming, as well as including precise tuning for colours, brightness, contrast, saturation and more. Smart effects include a surprisingly configurable chroma key, easy speed control for fast or slow motion, and there are some polished 3D transitions to explore. An instant preview gives you a very quick idea of how your masterpiece is progressing, and when you're happy it can be shared directly on YouTube, Facebook, Dropbox and more. As usual with demanding Android apps, KineMaster won't work smoothly with every device, and if your hardware is underpowered then it may be very sluggish. But you can sample the basic app for free, and overall KineMaster is one of the most capable mobile editors around, so it’s certainly worth a look. Platforms: Android Price: £0.56 ($0.70) – £27.99 ($35) in-app purchases You can buy KineMaster hereIt may not get quite as much attention as some of the competition, but Lightworks Pro - currently version 14 - is still a hugely capable pro-level video editor which has been used to edit some truly great films: LA Confidential, Pulp Fiction, Heat, Road to Perdition, Hugo, The King’s Speech and more. The program's highly configurable interface is a standout feature. You're not stuck with the usual asset, preview and timeline panels – Lightworks can easily be reorganised to show the features and tools you need, when and where you need them. The core principles are familiar – drag-and-drop source media, apply effects and view the results – but LightWorks Pro offers plenty of fine control. Fast and accurate trimming, advanced colour correction, real-time effects and multi-channel audio mixing are just a click or two away. Leading competitors such as Adobe Premiere Pro have longer feature lists and may be easier to use, but Lightworks Pro delivers a lot for your money, and there's a stripped-down free version available if you'd like to check out the editing basics. Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux Price: £100 ($125) per year, £250 ($310) one-off purchase You can buy Lightworks Pro hereLumaFusion is a new iOS video editor with a surprising heritage: it's a product of Luma Touch, a company founded by the developers behind Pinnacle Studio for iOS. Even though it's built for mobile devices, LumaFusion still includes the core features you'd expect from a desktop editor. A multi-track timeline, quick and accurate trimming, configurable titles, colour correction, multiple effects with optional layering, and keyframe support for fine-tuning. There's no way you'll want to keep all your project assets on a mobile device, of course. Fortunately, LumaFusion imports files from iCloud, Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive and more. LumaFusion offers surprisingly wide control over your exported footage. You can set aspect ratio, frame-rates, or choose resolutions up to 4K. The finished movie can be uploaded back to your cloud storage service, or shared directly on Facebook, YouTube and more. Platforms: iOS Price: $20 (£16) You can buy LumaFusion hereMost video editors are all about giving you complete creative control over your movie, providing the maximum number of effects and options to produce the results you need. But Magisto's web service and apps take a very different approach. The emphasis here is all about ease of use. You point Magisto at your source videos, photos and music, maybe choose a style, but after that the app does almost everything on its own, automatically optimising footage to deliver a polished, professional movie. How well this works varies depending on your source media, but a feature-packed engine – boasting video stabilisation, face recognition, filters, transitions and more – can deliver excellent results, at least some of the time. The baseline Premium+ package limits the movie length to two-and-a-half minutes, and even upgrading to the $10 (£8) a month Business account only lifts this to four minutes, so it's really for quick clips only. But it may still be interesting if speed and user-friendliness are top priorities for you, and there's a limited free plan available to help you check it out. Platforms: Web, iOS, Android Price: From $2.50 (£2) monthly (annual plan) You can buy Magisto hereSome video editors target home users. Others try to reach the professionals. Magix Movie Edit sits somewhere in the lower-middle range, easy for beginners to learn yet with just about enough higher-end features to keep more experienced users happy. Experts probably won't be impressed, but there's usually enough power here to get by. The baseline Movie Edit Pro edition ‘only’ supports 32 video and audio tracks, for instance, but the typical user probably won't care. Even the high-end Plus and Premium editions limit you to 5.1 audio and 16-bit colour processing, and support multi-cam editing for four cameras only, but that'll be just fine in most situations. There's a decent set of core features. Even the £35 edition has 4K and HEVC support, keyframe editing, chroma key and other effects, object tracking, DVD and Blu-ray authoring. The Plus and Premium packages take things further with more effects, more fine-tuning (transitions, masks), 360-degree video editing and export, a music editing and mastering suite, and the Premium edition includes MotionStudios Vasco da Gama 9 and Essential NewBlue Titler Pro Express. Magix Movie Edit doesn't compete so well with its rendering engine, which is notably slower than the best of the rest. But you do get a lot for your money, and a 30-day trial allows for checking out any potential performance issues. Platforms: Windows Price: From £35 ($43) You can buy Magix Movie Edit hereMovavi Video Editor is a very simple back-to-basics application for the editing novice. There's nothing advanced here. No 4K support, no H.265, 3D or 360-degree video, multi-cam editing, keyframes, DVD or Blu-ray authoring. Even the timeline only has one video and one audio track. This simplicity does make for a very straightforward and comfortable interface. Open the Preferences dialog, for instance, and you'll find only four tabs with a grand total of 13 settings, and four of those are default output folders. Even complete beginners will quickly find their way around. Movavi can still handle basic tasks, and occasionally more. You're able to rearrange and split clips, apply some basic corrections, add titles and use some simple effects. You even get basic chroma key and stabilisation tools. Put it all together and Movavi Video Editor might work as a first video editor for kids, or anyone else who wants the very basics with no need to learn anything complicated. But if you have ambitions to do anything more, opt for a low-cost competitor like Nero Video (coming up next). Platforms: Windows, Mac Price: £30 ($37) You can buy Movavi Video Editor hereGerman developer Nero AG has been producing quality media software for years, and Nero Video 2017 is a solid example of its range, stuffed with essential features while also being one of the cheapest packages here. 4K import? Check. H.265? No problem. Multi-track timeline, easy trimming, video and audio effects, keyframing? Of course. There are handy extras like the ability to preview footage full-screen on a second monitor, advanced or express video editing modes for improved ease of use, and you can author your finished movie to DVD or Blu-ray with custom menus and more. You also get some bonus media management and playback features, including iOS and Android apps to stream or transfer media between devices. While Nero Video 2017 has a wide range of features, there isn't a lot of depth here. Individual effects aren't as configurable as you'll see with the best of the rest, the interface hasn't been significantly updated for some time, while rendering and effects are slow. Also, some modern features are missing (360-degree video support) and Nero has failed to catch up on some other fronts (there's no sharing on social media). Nero Video 2017 still gives you more for your money than just about anyone else, and it could be a good choice for budget users, but if quality is top of your requirements list check out the likes of Adobe Premiere Elements or CyberLink PowerDirector. Platforms: Windows Price: €30 (£26, $32) You can buy Nero Video 2017 hereCorel's Pinnacle Studio Ultimate is a consumer-oriented video editor which also includes some surprising high-end features. The package supports editing 4K and 360-degree footage, for instance. There's multi-cam editing for up to six cameras. The timeline supports an unlimited number of tracks, there are more than 2,000 effects (including NewBlue Video Essentials III), transitions and templates, along with extras including motion tracking and live screen capture. And you can save your creation locally, burn it to disc or share it online. Pinnacle Studio isn't as polished as Adobe Premiere, CyberLink PowerDirector or the other market leaders. There's not quite as much functionality, what you get isn't always impressive (more than half the 2,000 ‘effects, transitions and templates’ could disappear without anyone noticing), plus usability doesn't quite match up. Be wary of the base Pinnacle Studio edition, too. It looks cheap at £40-£50 but drops many of the best features – 4K and 360-degree support, NewBlue effects, motion tracking – and even the timeline is restricted to six tracks. Still, overall Pinnacle Studio Ultimate is a likeable package, and if you're a fan of the product from previous editions there's a lot to enjoy here. Platforms: Windows, iOS Price: From £75 ($95) You can buy Pinnacle Studio Ultimate hereAlthough it has never been one of the top video editors, Vegas has come a long way recently and more than deserves a place in our list. The package can polish your clips with image stabilisation, colour matching, primary and secondary colour correction. The built-in effects now include a neat vignette, there's support for OpenFX plugins, and Sony's media experience comes across in the audio features with support for VST plugins, ASIO drivers, ACID loop properties and more. The DVD and Blu-ray authoring package is a plus, too. But there are also issues. No H.265 or MKV support, no 360-degree editing, no motion tracking, limited multi-cam editing for up to four cameras only, and assorted quirks which make the program a little more awkward to use. Long-term fans of Vegas Studio will find plenty of improvements, and if you need the audio extras it could also be worth a look, but if you're just hunting for the best general-purpose video editor there are better products around. Platforms: Windows Price: £70 ($88) You can buy Sony Vegas Movie Studio Platinum hereMobile devices wouldn't be our first choice for video editing, but iOS app Vee for Video shows the platform can work well. Active stabilisation uses your device sensors to reduce camera shake, a ‘Ghost’ feature helps you line up your next shot with a transparent overlay of the last, and clips are added directly to the video as you shoot to cut down on Camera Roll clutter. The app scores well on the editing basics, too. You can drag-and-drop your clips around, trim them precisely, apply effects and transitions, add a soundtrack and more. There's support for 720p, 1080p and 4K video, and the finished movie can be saved and shared in all the usual places. What we're not seeing is much in the way of updates, and Vee for Video looks like one of those apps which gets a big launch, but doesn't see much attention afterwards. Still, it's not like buying the app requires much of a financial commitment, and overall it's a smart addition to your iDevice. Platforms: iOS Price: $2.99 (£2.40) You can buy Vee for Video hereNCH Software has developed apps covering everything from invoicing to guitar tuning and home design, but it's best known for multimedia packages such as VideoPad Video Editor. The program is relatively basic. The interface is plain, ordinary Windows. Media handling is powered by the open source FFmpeg, rather than any special custom engine. If you're looking for anything faintly advanced – such as motion tracking, or multi-cam editing – VideoPad will leave you disappointed. There are still creative opportunities here. Clips can be dragged-and-dropped onto the timeline and you're able to apply effects, add transitions or soundtracks. There are some unexpected extras, including 3D video editing, video stabilisation, 4K export, and uploading to YouTube, Facebook or Flickr. And although the standard Windows interface isn't optimised for editing, it's also very familiar, and keeps the program easy to use. Factor in the wide platform support (with free offerings in some cases) and VideoPad Video Editor could work for some users. It's expensive for what you get, though, and much closer to the bottom of our list than the top. Platforms: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Kindle Price: $70 (£56) You can buy VideoPad Video Editor hereWhile most video editors understand that it's important to be able to share your clips online, WeVideo goes one step further by allowing you to create them in the cloud, too. WeVideo's browser-based approach involves plenty of compromises; features are strictly basics-only. Standard tools like slow motion are classed as ‘premium’ here, and although the Unlimited account supports 4K video, the lesser plans limit you to 720p. What you get in return is unlimited cloud storage, which makes for much more flexible working. Shoot a clip anywhere and you can add it to your account immediately, start editing if you're in a hurry, but then finish the process off on any other device. You could even use it to collaborate on a project with others. The core editing features are basic, and reviews are mixed, with some people complaining of reliability issues. But if a browser-based solution makes sense for you then we'd give WeVideo a try. There's a free plan available, and although it's extremely limited, and adds watermarks to your video, it'll give you a quick idea of how the service works. Platforms: Web, iOS, Android Price: £8 a month (limited free plan) You can buy WeVideo Unlimited herehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/KnOY852NjLg

Apple has given its Apple Music Android app a major refresh, bringing a touch of iOS 10 to Google’s smartphone platform. Bringing Android users up to date with the latest Apple Music features, the version 2.0 update is the first major overhaul to be bestowed on the app. The sizeable update brings the Android app in line with Apple’s own platform and adds a number of additions iOS users have been enjoying since last September. Better late than never, as well as a cleaner, more refined look, these features include a more streamlined music library and the ability to access song lyrics directly from within the app. Refreshed lookThe refreshed look sees the Apple Music Android app move to a more simplified layout based around four main categories: Library, For You, Browse, and Radio. While the Library tab now lets you navigate your music more easily and see downloaded tracks available for offline listening, the For You option offers more refined playlist and album recommendations based on your past listening. Elsewhere the Browse option gives users easy access to a new music and mood-based playlists while the Radio tab has added the ability to easily find specific Beats 1 shows or search stations covering a range of genres. For those who want to sing along to their favourite tracks, lyrics can be seen within the revamped, iOS-inspired Now Player view. The Apple Music v2.0 update is available now as a free patch in the Google Play store. Apple Music is currently Apple’s only full app available to Android users. The power of the playlist: how streaming is changing how we listen to musichttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/zfhQO1ZrFjM

Windscribehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png Virtual private networks (VPNs) are an increasingly important weapon in the fight for online privacy. They work by using a secure connection to redirect your web traffic via a secure remote server, preventing your data being intercepted and stopping third parties gathering information on your location and activities. There are lots of free VPNs around, but most provide very limited bandwidth (as little as 500MB per month), and keep records of your IP address and browsing history for months. Windscribe is different, with a generous data cap and a real focus on privacy. Why you need itWindscribe gives you an impressive 10GB bandwidth per month as standard, and you can boost your allowance by tweeting about the service for an extra 5GB, or referring a friend for another 1GB. If that friend then upgrades to an unlimited paid-for subscription, you'll be given the premium plan too. Windscribe doesn't store IP stamps, connection logs, or lists of visited sites, and only keeps the bare minimum of data necessary when you're actively connected to one of its servers (your username, the ID of the server you're using, and the amount of data transferred). This is all erased within three minutes of the session ending. Its generous data cap and user-focused approach to record-keeping make Windscribe the best free VPN around. Download it today and start protecting your connection. Download here: Windscribe http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/-Ta7xcsFAuM

Netflix has finally updated its Windows 10 PC app to support offline viewing. Available via the Windows 10 Store on PC devices (including tablets), the update allows you to download select movies and TV shows for later viewing. As Windows Central reports, the selection is currently limited to Netflix originals and a few outliers, which is a bummer. But it shouldn’t be long before Netflix works out whatever licensing hurdles are preventing the offline download expansion, as many film houses have already permitted this on mobile devices through Netflix. You can see plenty films and TV shows that aren’t original to Netflix in a new “Available for Download” menu option, but even now only a scant few are available to actually, well, download. Bigger is better, right?The change makes itself known with a small button next to the listing option underneath a selection’s title card. There’s an area for managing your downloaded content as well. While iPad and other tablet owners have enjoyed this feature for a while, this is (literally) big news for frequent travelers with Windows 10 laptops or 2-in-1 laptops. Watching Netflix on a 9.7-inch screen is fine, but pretty much anyone would prefer a 13-inch or larger, no? This major update comes just days before the Windows 10 Creators Update is available for direct download – a good time to be a Windows fan. Now, here are some of the best laptops to watch Netflix on or offlineVia The Verge http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/DMYgj8yerqg

In what might just be a ‘defining moment’ for computing across the globe, the rise and rise of smartphones means that Windows is no longer the most popular OS as measured by worldwide internet usage – having been ousted from pole position by Android. Microsoft’s OS has led the global operating system arena since the 1980s, but according to StatCounter’s latest figures, for the first time ever, Android has taken the crown off Windows with March’s global internet usage market share (across PCs, tablets and phones). Android is now on 37.93% of all devices, just edging out Windows which is on 37.91%. It’s only a sliver of difference, but a very telling milestone nonetheless – particularly when you consider that Google’s mobile OS has jumped to this level from a market share of just 2.4% five years ago. This won’t really be a surprise to anyone, though, given that smartphone usage has rocketed in the past half-decade, with more and more people now surfing the web on their phones. And of course desktop PCs have suffered a massive sales slump in that time, too, as we’ve heard via repeated statistics and reports laden with doom and gloom (although that said, the desktop computer market is making some slightly more positive noises just recently). As for the other platforms behind Android and Windows, they would be iOS on 13.09%, and then OS X (macOS) on 5.17%. Desktop colossusNaturally, Windows is still a colossus when it comes to desktop operating systems in isolation, with an 84% total market share for the month just past. But clearly, Microsoft must be worried regarding the march to mobile, with the apparent total failure of Windows to make an impact with phones – according to StatCounter, Windows-powered phones only account for 1% of all handsets worldwide, despite the firm’s ‘mobile-first’ mantra adopted when Satya Nadella took the helm. Aodhan Cullen, chief executive at StatCounter, commented: “Windows won the desktop war but the battlefield moved on. It will be difficult for Microsoft to make inroads in mobile but the next paradigm shift might give it the opportunity to regain dominance. “That could be in Augmented Reality, AI, Voice or Continuum (a product that aims to replace a desktop and smartphone with a single Microsoft powered phone).” We’ve certainly seen in recent times that some of Microsoft’s key hopes are to push VR and mixed reality on a more affordable level, and big-up Cortana in a major way, including pushing the digital assistant in the smart home. Convertible laptops are on the rise, too, and these are the best 2-in-1shttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/GEtoTGH7_40

This article was provided to TechRadar by Linux User & Developer, a magazine which is dedicated to passing on the open source knowledge and expertise of grass-roots developers and hackers. Some of the software included may have been updated since the article was first published. If you use your Linux machine to access the internet, whether it’s at home or particularly on the road, then it’s worth learning about the pros and cons of Virtual Private Networks or VPNs. A VPN allows you to secure traffic between two locations – the first being your own machine, the other being either a commercial VPN provider or a VPN system that you have deployed yourself, either in the cloud or perhaps at another location of your own, such as in the office. VPNs are available using a host of different protocols, but their essence is the same – traffic is encrypted at the host end and decrypted at the server end, ensuring that information cannot be snooped on by a middleman on the way to its destination. When using a VPN, there are a number of different options related to routing. The typical scenario is to route all traffic over the VPN connection, but you can also use the concept of ‘split tunnelling’, where some traffic passes over the VPN connection and some passes over the regular internet connection, based on routing rules. VPNs are often touted as an essential tool for those worried about persecution for their online activities, but the reality is that their benefits reach much wider, offering peace of mind for anyone who sends data over public networks. 5 of the most popular Raspberry Pi distros10 of the best Linux distros for privacy fiends and security buffs5 of the most popular Linux gaming distros10 of the most popular lightweight Linux distrosWhy go virtual?So, let’s take a moment to more thoroughly explore the reasons why you might want to use a VPN. Although privacy and security concerns are the most common reasons for setting up private networks, they are not the only ones. Whether you’re using a home broadband connection or roaming mobile data in a foreign country, there’s a good chance that you’ll be subject to traffic shaping. Traffic shaping is employed by service providers to limit the speed of certain types of traffic in order to prioritise content across their network. For example, many of the UK’s service providers use shaping to throttle down music and video streaming services when out of the country, in order to discourage customers from using large amounts of data. Similarly some UK broadband providers will do the same with file downloads at peak hours. A VPN can help avoid this happening, as it encrypts all traffic going across your internet connection, meaning that your provider won’t be able to see exactly what you are doing. One slight caveat with this is that some providers may detect and throttle VPN traffic itself, although given the wealth of different VPNs and protocols available, this can be avoided by using a less common service (typically, not OpenVPN). http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xjNmfquUijamrSzUNSzBaa.jpg Data securityThe classic use case of a VPN is with public Wi-Fi hotspots. If you are out and about with your Linux laptop (or your phone, or any other connected device), then you might want to take advantage of some free connectivity provided by your favourite coffee shop. The problem with this is that you don’t really know what is happening to your data as it travels between your device and the service you want to use. It could be intercepted by other actors on the network or by a compromised Wi-Fi system in the cafe. If you are looking to send any data you care about, be it your social network posts or your online banking, you should really think twice here. Using a VPN will ensure that all traffic going over the public network is safely encrypted. A very common use of VPNs is to provide external connectivity to office networks. Using this method means that opening machines up to the world completely can be avoided; instead, only a VPN server is configured. When users connect to the VPN, they will be able to browse as if they were actually in the office. Using split tunnelling means that any internet access or local network access will still be possible, but addresses within the office IP range are routed over the VPN. This concept can also be used in a similar way on your home network. By installing a VPN server at home (or using VPN functionality built into a number of popular routers), it is possible to connect when away from home and access machines on your home network as if you were actually there. This is particularly useful if you have content stored on a NAS, or perhaps want to remotely view IP security cameras without opening them up completely to the world. Many businesses now choose to deploy their infrastructure in the cloud, using providers such as Amazon Web Services. A common concept in cloud hosting is VPC, or Virtual Private Cloud. This allows companies to have a number of servers located in the cloud, but have them not generally accessible to the internet, instead allowing them only to communicate with each other. A good option is to deploy VPN access inside the VPC, so that again a minimal number of ports are exposed to the outside world, helping to enhance overall security. Location, location, locationOne consideration when using VPNs is their location. If you are based in the UK, but connect to a VPN in another country – the US for example – then this will impact activities such as web browsing, as the destination server will see only your ‘exit IP’, that is the IP of the server from where you are ultimately routing traffic. This can be a negative thing – if you are using Google and everything comes up in another language, or content is geo-blocked – or a positive thing, if you are out of the country, and you VPN back to the UK in order to access content that is similarly restricted (BBC iPlayer is a great example). http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CvPcQVY86J6dNDCUkMZKZF.jpg VPN versus VPSSo that’s the basics of VPN covered, but you may have also heard of a VPS, and wondered what on earth that is. A VPS is a ‘virtual private server’ – a virtual server box in the cloud. Let’s explore the main points of difference between the two. What’s a VPN? It’s typically provided by specialist VPN companiesAlso possible for tech-savvy people to deployVaries widely in price, but start from freeTypically, you get what you pay forIf the encryption key is shared amongst users, data could still potentially be compromisedOften available with ‘POPs’ (points of presence) in a range of countries across the worldSpeeds will often vary based on user locationWhat’s a VPS? Provides a set amount of CPU, RAM, storage and traffic for a monthly feeIs generally deployed with a basic OS build the user can then customiseMore commonly available with Linux than any other platformIdeal for deploying your own VPN solutionGot all that? Good. On the next page, we’ll move on to consider the best VPN options themselves… Also check out our guide on getting started with a VPN in LinuxHere are four of the best tools Linux pros can use to keep their internet connection private and secure. The first three are do-it-yourself affairs, with the final entry in our shortlist being a traditional VPN provider. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Sa2A8m4K4iycQ3B4kBBuca.jpg 1. StreisandThere are a number of options when deploying your own VPN server. You can take a bare Linux install and deploy your own individual packages (which, admittedly, does give you the highest level of control), but this is undoubtedly extremely time consuming. The alternative is to use a tool to deploy a VPN server on your behalf. A number of open source tools are available that offer this feature, the first of which is Streisand. The Streisand script sets up a new server running L2TP/IPsec, OpenConnect, OpenSSH, OpenVPN, Shadowsocks, sslh, Stunnel, a Tor bridge, and WireGuard. This provides you with a host of different connection methods you can use to suit your needs across a wide range of platforms. It is particularly clever in that it also generates custom instructions for all of these services. At the end of the installation script, you are given an HTML file with instructions that can be shared with friends or family members, and the server itself also hosts instructions on how to connect on a website secured with a validated SSL certificate. The script is designed to run against Ubuntu 16.04 (the current LTS release) and can be used to either provision an existing server via an IP address or alternatively to automatically deploy a new box at one of a number of cloud VPS providers, including Amazon EC2, DigitalOcean, Google Compute Engine, Linode or Rackspace. The Streisand developers plan to add support for Amazon Lightsail in the near future. The process is completely automated and only takes about 10 minutes. The great thing about using Streisand is that you can tear down the VPS and redeploy at will, which reduces the risk of compromise and is just plain convenient. As an open source product, Streisand is audited by many independent developers to help assure its safety. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/C28QTaKVR9g34kmGLpKiVa.jpg 2. AlgoWhile Streisand is a very popular VPN platform, it is not the only offering of its type. A frequently used alternative is Algo – a set of Ansible scripts (like Streisand) that simplifies the setup of your own IPSEC VPN. It contains the most secure defaults available, again works with common cloud providers, and crucially does not require client software on most devices. So why would you use Algo over Streisand? Algo is a lot more limited than Streisand, and that is frequently touted as its main benefit. Algo supports only IKEv2 with a single cipher suite – AES-GCM, HMAC-SHA2, and P-256 DH. It does not install Tor, OpenVPN or other servers that some deem as ‘risky’ and with a single widely supported protocol, it doesn’t require client software on most devices. Algo is also much better at handling multiple users than Streisand, providing a script that can be used post-build to update the user list at your convenience. This core difference aside, many other aspects of Algo are similar to Streisand. It deploys on Ubuntu, can install to DigitalOcean, Amazon EC2, Microsoft Azure or your own server and generate the required config files for connections when complete. Algo also has a few optional install features, such as ad blocking via a local DNS resolver and HTTP proxy, and limited SSH users for traffic tunnelling. The Algo homepage contains details on how to connect from Apple, Android, Windows and, of course, Linux devices. Linux connectivity is provided using the strongSwan client, which connects extremely quickly and reliably. If you want to connect from another type of client or configure the connection yourself, the appropriate certificate/key files are provided. As with Streisand, the project is open source and being constantly updated with fixes and improvements. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CQyworWWZeBKb3PgLRKkda.jpg 3. WireGuardA lot of the VPN protocols and solutions used today have been around for a long time and are considered by many to be inefficient. A quick look at discussions about Stresiand and Algo will show you this – there is always a lot of conversation regarding which services and protocols should be included in the product, and the polar opposite approaches of the two most popular deployment solutions above demonstrate that there is by no means a consensus on this issue. Maybe WireGuard is the answer. WireGuard is an extremely simple yet fast and modern VPN that utilises state-of-the-art cryptography. Its stated aims are to be faster, simpler, leaner, and more useful than IPSec, while avoiding the latter’s painful setup. It is designed to be considerably better performing than the ubiquitous OpenVPN standard. WireGuard is designed as a general purpose VPN for running on a wide range of platforms for all types of usage. WireGuard was initially released for the Linux kernel, but it plans to be cross-platform and widely deployable. How good is it? While it is currently undergoing heavy development, it’s already regarded by many as the most secure, easiest to use, and simplest VPN solution in the industry. The WireGuard website has a guide to installing the product and of course there are two options, either compiling from source or installing from packages. A PPA is provided for Ubuntu and you’re also catered for if you’re on Debian, Arch, Fedora, CentOS, OpenSUSE or a number of other distros. There’s a macOS version too, if you’re that way inclined. WireGuard is more than just a curio despite its active development – it’s generally worth installing and configuring using the provided quick-start walkthrough. With its clever implementation as a simple network interface, extreme performance and minimal attack surface, it may well be the VPN solution of the future. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mQYudy4sDWTHrSpNXHdsWY.jpg 4. VyprVPNWhat if, rather than ‘rolling’ your own VPN solution, you’d prefer to simply sign up for a hosted service? You could do a lot worse than use VyprVPN from Golden Frog, touted as ‘the world’s most powerful VPN’. What does VyprVPN bring to the table? You’ll get fast VPN speeds, 70+ global locations served by over 700 servers and 200,000 IP addresses, easy to use apps for a huge range of devices, and a clever cloaking technology called Chameleon – the real reason for considering VyprVPN. What don’t you get? You don’t get an end-to-end open source solution, although Golden Frog asserts that it doesn’t use third-party providers at all, and that it owns and manages 100% of its hardware, software and network so your privacy is protected from end-to-end. Behind the scenes, VyprVPN is based on Ubuntu servers and a huge open source stack including OpenVPN, strongSwan, Nginx, OpenSSL, Python and much more. The closed source part of the system is mostly what brings it all together – the web interfaces, clients, APIs etc. Golden Frog estimates that just 0.7% of its software stack is closed source software. VyprVPN’s Chameleon feature is closed source but is also a very compelling argument for using the service. Based on OpenVPN, Chameleon takes the packets that are going to be sent over the network and adds an obfuscation layer which is designed to defeat Deep Packet Inspection (that troublesome tool which enabled provider packet shaping). And here’s the thing – it works beautifully. Whereas other VPN methods have struggled amongst particularly aggressive providers, Chameleon has performed admirably. If this feature is a key priority for your needs, VyprVPN may well be the best solution for you. If you want to read up more on the provider, check out our full VyprVPN review. Also note that there’s a free trial for the service, should you want to give it a spin. The 10 best VPN services 2017http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/_QpPfqyTs0c

The Google Chromecast is not only one of the most useful and innovative gadgets of the last few years, it's also dazzlingly cheap. And if you're looking to pick one up for the cheapest possible price, you've come to the right place! Chromecast is a Wi-Fi HDMI dongle that you plug directly into your TV. From there you can use your smartphone or tablet to 'throw' video at your TV over Wi-Fi – whether it be Netflix movies, live football matches from the major broadcasters or simply just a funny YouTube video. On this page we'll find you the best prices for the Chromecast Ultra, Chromecast 2 (or just Chromecast now) and Chromecast Audio and explain how they differ. What is a good Chromecast deal?This one's easy. The standard price for a Chromecast 2 is $54. You should never, ever pay more than that because you can always find one for that price. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/19b46e6c533742a2887ffb6d23c9d756.jpg Chromecast 2 dealsThe Chromecast 2, or 'new Chromecast' as it's also known, is very similar to the now discontinued 2013 Chromecast. Sure, it looks a little different. And it's got slightly faster network performance and a few other tweaks such as coming with a dangly cable instead of as a rigid stick. But essentially the same product in a different shape. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b44da6632dac269286ca1758075c7958.jpg Chromecast Audio dealsWhile it doesn't offer true multi-room streaming at the moment (fingers crossed that comes soon), this easy-to-use and affordable device modernises any trusty set of wired speakers you already own with wireless capabilities. In doing so, it also opens them up to features that will grow and get even better over time. Got an old set of speakers or an ancient iPod dock? Turn it into a wireless speaker with Chromecast Audio! http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/763abe0e2105abc4a57ea7b57d6c1771.jpg Chromecast Ultra dealsThe 4K Chromecast Ultra is the newest member of the Chromecast family. If you have a 4K TV or are planning on getting one, it's certainly worth picking one of these up. The Chromecast Ultra is a cheaper alternative to Amazon's Fire TV or the US-only Roku 4 for getting 4K content on your TV. Chromecast Ultra deals are usually around $88, so anything cheaper is an added bonus. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/WFsC1sAes28

Microsoft will allow savvy fans to download the Windows 10 Creators Update early – officially this time. Starting April 5, Microsoft will officially make the major update available through its previously-leaked Update Assistant tool. The firm made the announcement through its Windows Blog along with details on how Microsoft will handle the rollout for everyone else that starts April 11th. You will be able to download the Update Assistant tool officially from this link, but not until April 5. Of course, Microsoft says the Update Assistant will only work on licensed copies of the operating system. So, what about that rollout?The operative word in Microsoft’s plans for releasing the Creators Update is “rollout”. With that in mind, on April 11, the update will first make it to the general Windows Update tool within newer PCs, “especially those we tested together with our OEM hardware partners,” Microsoft’s John Cable writes. Next up will be, well, up to Microsoft – based on the feedback the company receives from this first phase of rollout to those shiny, new devices. Then, Cable writes that the firm will “iterate this process over a period of several months” until every last of the 400-odd million Windows 10 devices download the Creators Update. Yes, you read that correctly: “several months.” That shouldn’t be a huge surprise, though, considering the Anniversary Update rollout period lasted about as long. In other words, if you’re just dying to get your hands on the Creators Update, your best bet is to familiarize yourself with the Update Assistant tool on April 5. We know we’ll be doing the same. These are the best laptops of 2017 so farhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/VuMmxP-_s9k

They say it takes a village to raise a child, but a well-knit community can also come in a pinch for financial emergencies, such as an unexpected medical expense, disaster relief, or college tuition. To help enable more peer-to-peer giving, Facebook is expanding its charitable giving tools to allow users to set up GoFundMe-style fundraisers for themselves, a nonprofit organization, or another individual. The feature currently lets a user set up a page to help address one of six specified monetary needs: education, medicine, pet medicine, crisis relief, personal emergencies, and funerals. From there, the fundraiser undergoes a 24-hour-long review process before going live for your Facebook friends to share, comment on, and donate to. You can also track which of your friends contributed to your cause, or invite others to join in. For existing nonprofit pages, Facebook is also adding donation buttons that go up alongside Facebook Live broadcasts — perfect for chipping in a little without interrupting your digital-era telethon or charity livestream. Facebook's fundraiser feature rolls out in beta starting this week for users in the US. As a side note, the social media giant has also made it clear that you must be 18 or older to set up a crowdfunding page. How to master Facebook Livehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/MyerA2V_w7I

Rejoice, tweeters! You now have more characters with which to craft the perfect reply. Twitter has announced that it will no longer count @usernames against your 140-character limit in replies, meaning you can respond to as many people as you like without their handles muscling in on actual tweet text territory. The change, rolling out to the twitter.com and Twitter's iOS and Android apps today, introduces a new way to see who you are replying to. Now, when you go to write a response, you'll see who you are @'ing above the tweet text versus in the tweet itself. To see who's part of your conversation, tap "Replying to..." and the accounts will appear in a drop down menu. You can also remove users from the conversation here, including blocked accounts. To remove someone you've blocked, click on the green checkmark icon next to their name. To remove any user – save for the author of the original tweet you're responding to – also click the checkmark, and they will be removed. One exception to the new rule is adding people. You can only add another account manually, and this will count against the 140-character limit. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vXBA23hY3nkspSFoJAQijm.jpg How Twitter's new reply protocol looksDifferent, but better?Finally, the change means that for any conversation with users replying, you won't see usernames spelled out at the start of a tweet, but rather only what's being said between participants. Twitter says it saw an increase in conversation engagement during tests of the feature, and while it does give users more characters to worth with, we'll see if the new protocol catches on. Yes, you have more characters at your fingertips to state your case/perfect a punchline/not have to save space by writing "u" and "b", but you also have to take an extra step to see who is part of a conversation. This could be a turnoff or unwanted complication for some. On the flip side, as Twitter looks to sunset some of the quirky rules that have turned users away, this could be just the trick to help old and new users participate without feeling like they're censoring themselves. That feeling, we can say from experience, is frustrating, to say the least. Want to tweet on your terms? Check out the best Twitter clientshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/37z-7Fx3w6E

CCleanerhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png CCleaner is a free Windows optimization tool that blitzes clutter and unwanted files from your computer, leaving it in tip top condition and faster than ever. Not only does it delete temporary files and empty your Recycle Bin, it also clears out cookies from web browsers, cleans up leftovers from uninstalled programs, and deleted unused registry entries. You can also use CCleaner to manage the programs that run when your PC starts up, and uninstall any that you don't use. Why you need itIf you've ever despaired at the slow speed of your computer, it could be time for a system clean out. That's because the more you use your PC, the more clutter it accumulates. Temporary internet files, cookies and redundant files can all clog your machine up and leave it running about as fast as a sloth in slo-mo. That's where CCleaner comes in. This handy little program analyses problem areas and, with your permission, banishes files that have reduced your computer to a crawl. It's remarkably thorough and can delete gigabytes of unnecessary and unwanted files on its first run. But don't worry, it's also particularly smart. It steers well clear of important system files, and avoids cookies that look like they contain login information (unless you say otherwise), so you won't have to type out your passwords all over again. It also shows you exactly what it plans on deleting before it starts, so you know what to expect once you set it on its way. Download here: CCleaner http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/oU1XXnhRLok

Back up your moviesThe idea of ripping DVDs is very much like ripping CDs, although it's shrouded in slightly more controversy. It involves using software to convert the contents of a DVD into a video file that can be easily stored on your hard drive, or moved to other devices so you can watch it on the move. It might seem like something that is incredibly complicated, and it can be. But with the right software you can create backups of your favorite DVDs with ease. It's important to note that the nature of DVD ripping software means it's a segment of the software market that's home to a lot of malicious software. It can be difficult to navigate your way through the seemingly endless choice of titles and know which are legitimate, so we've done the hard work for you. Here we present five of the best free DVD rippers which get the job done without being blighted by malware, adware and other nasties. Is ripping DVDs legal? As with CDs, there are no international copyright laws that cover ripping DVDs. For example, in 2014, UK copyright law was changed to legalize personal backups, but that decision was overturned by the High Court in 2015. Make sure you check out intellectual property law in your country before you start ripping. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VGhNVB8BXDx88YbsTqHBg5.jpg 1. WinX DVD Ripper Free Editionhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png Not only for movies, this DVD ripper can also handle ISO images and whole folders When you install the free version of WinX DVD Ripper, you'll notice that it's actually the Platinum Edition in trial mode. Don't worry though – once the demo expires you'll lose action to some of the features (mainly speed-related and a couple of specific DRM cracks), but you'll still have a powerful DVD ripper on your hands that you can use indefinitely. WinX DVD Ripper can be used to rip directly from DVDs, but it also works with ISO images, and folders of DVD files. Once your input has been analyzed – a process that doesn't take long – you can take your pick from a raft of ready made profiles. These profiles help you to quickly output a video that is suitable for playback on specific mobile devices or, say, ideal for uploading to Facebook You can choose to rip the built-in subtitles or embed your own, and you can select which audio tracks should be included; it's all beautifully simple and pleasingly fast. Download here: Win X DVD Ripper Free Edition http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qgzQYBG4qctbzjXHAKQXL3.jpg 2. Freemake Video ConverterDVD ripping made simple, with a simple interface and step-by-step instructions Freemake is a name synonymous with powerful, high quality freeware, and Freemake Video Converter doesn't let the side down. The clean, clear interface is a joy to use, and you're never left feeling in any doubt about what you're meant to do. Fire up the software, switch to the DVD section and choose your drive from the list. After disc analysis you'll need to indicate which of the video track you're interested in. You can even take things a step further and clip out segments of a video rather than grabbing the whole thing. Shortcuts at the bottom of the screen provide access to popular output formats (AVI, MKV, device-specific formats); just make your selection, hit 'Convert', and you're done. Note that Freemake Video Converter will try to install some potentially unwanted extra components, so be sure to select the 'Custom' option and opt out of these. Download here: Freemake Video Converter http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uAijThAMdYHQkUzwDgKJxn.jpg 3. HandBrakehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png You might already use HandBrake for converting files, but it's also a capable DVD ripper HandBrake is not only a free DVD ripper (or video transcoder, as it prefers to be known) but also an open source one, so it's totally free in every sense of the word. More than a decade in the making, the software finally reached version 1.0.0, It is – or at least looks – a little more complicated that some of the others we're looking at here, but don’t let that put you off. By default there's no support for bypassing copy-protection, but this is something you can get around with a little research if necessary (bearing in mind IP laws in your country). As with other programs, there are a number of presets ready for you to choose from, but you can also manually tailor each ripping session if you prefer. If you're working with ISO images or disc folders, it's possible to queue up multiple encoding jobs to run consecutively to save having to be around when each finishes. The sheer level of control makes HandBrake well worth a try. Download here: HandBrake http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iwnf29pQEPY6gnY6NtGi4m.jpg 4. MakeMKVhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png Rip DVDs and Blu-rays with a simple interface and no awkward configuration options If you've used DVD ripping software before, MakeMKV might look a little familiar – it bears more than a passing resemblance to DVD Decrypter. As well as handling DVDs, the program, is also capable of ripping Blu-ray discs, and the process works in exactly the same way in each case (although it's worth noting that Blu-ray ripping is only be free while the program is in beta). The great thing about MakeMKV is that there is so little to think about. Fire up the program, analyse your disc, choose which of the track you would like to rip, indicate where the output file should be saved, and then hit the 'Make MKV' button. That's really all there is to it. There's no messing about, no complex configuration – just analyze, rip and go. Download here: MakeMKV http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Juuswy2LesGvZKBgAzJnff.jpg 5. DVDFab HD Decryptorhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png Limited ripping options, but handy if you just need to copy a disc in a hurry The full version DVDFab itself isn't free of charge. It installs as a trial version, but the DVDFab HD Decrypter – which you need for DVD and Blu-ray ripping – remains free forever. The free portion is rather limited, allowing you to rip discs in Full Disc or Main Movie modes only. This means that the free version is nowhere near as versatile as the other programs we've covered here, but it still has its place. For example, it can be useful if you want to extract the video files from a disc and maintain their original formats when transferring them to your hard drive. You're then free to import the files into another program for further work if you want, or just use your favorite DVD software to watch the videos without the need for a disc to be inserted. Download here: DVDFab HD Decryptor http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/GlD3-Ts52RI

Although everyone's been talking about the connected home for some time now, it's never really delivered on its lofty promises to simplify out lives. Part of the issue is that, although we have plenty of devices that are able to connect to isolated app, it's proven harder to get them to talk to each other. Samsung's new Samsung Connect app, announced as part of its Samsung Galaxy S8 livestream, is an attempt to change all this. One app to rule them allMuch like Apple's Home app, Samsung Connect will allow you to control your various connected home devices from a single app. This means that you'll be able to control everything from your lights to your thermostat, and have these devices talk to each other. The interactivity is enabled with Samsung's SmartThings ecosystem, which unifies connected appliances into a single ecosystem much like Apple's HomeKit has attempted to do. Samsung Connect will also tie into Samsung's new Bixby voice assistant, so you'll be able to raise the temperature of your home by simply speaking to your phone. It's great to see these various products being united into a single ecosystem, but we're wary of home devices being tied to specific phones. If you invest heavily in SmartThings, it then makes it more difficult to switch to an iPhone in the future if you want your devices to continue to be able to speak to each other. In the long term we might begin to see devices working across these different ecosystems, but in the short term it's looking like the connected home is still something of a walled garden. Check out our hands on reviews of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Samsung Galaxy S8 Plushttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/N3M8LrpEE7A

Why use text-to-speech?There are lots of reasons to use text-to-speech (TTS) software. It can be enormously helpful for anyone who's visually impaired, or has a condition like dyslexia that makes reading on screens tricky. Text-to-speech can also help overcome language barriers for people who read a language but don't speak it, or are in the process of learning. TTS is also ideal if you want to listen to a document while doing something else, if you find it easier to retain information you've heard, or if you want to sense-check something you've written. In years gone by, TTS software was rather expensive, but these days there are excellent available free of charge. Of course, there are still plenty that you can pay for, but in many cases you should be able to get by with a program that doesn’t cost you a penny. Here are the best free tools for reading text aloud – either individual paragraphs or whole documents. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wx38AorgD9KanrWNLgbQP4.jpg 1. Balabolkahttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png Balabolka can read your documents in six voices, then save the audio with handy bookmarks There are a couple of ways to use Balabolka: you can either copy and paste text into the program, or you can open a number of supported file formats (including DOC, PDF, and HTML) in the program directly. In terms of output you can use SAPI 4 complete with eight different voices to choose from, SAPI 5 with two, or the Microsoft Speech Platform if you download and install the necessary files. Whichever route you go down, you can adjust the speech, pitch and volume of playback to create custom voice. In addition to reading aloud text, the program can also save narrations as audio files in a range of formats including .mp3 and .wav. For lengthy documents you can create bookmarks to make it easy to jump back to a specific location and there are excellent tools on hand to help you to customize the pronunciation of words to your liking. Balabolka is best free TTS software around. Download here: Balabolka http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bskRK72FXVBPB2QPF76MNW.jpg 2. WordTalkhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png A Microsoft Word extension that brings customizable TTS to your favorite word processor Developed by the University of Edinburgh, WordTalk is a toolbar add-on for Word that brings customizable text-to-speech to Microsoft's word processor. It works with all versions of Word right up to the 2016 edition, and is accessible via the toolbar or ribbon – depending on which version you're using. The toolbar itself is certainly not the most attractive you'll ever see, appearing to have been designed by a child. Nor are all of the buttons' functions very clear, but thankfully there is a help file on hand to help. There's no getting away from the fact that WordTalk is fairly basic, but it does support SAPI 4 and 5 voices, and these can be tweaked to your liking. The ability to just read aloud individual words, sentences or paragraphs is a particularly nice touch. You also have the option of saving narrations, and there are a number of keyboard shortcuts that allow for quick and easy access to frequently used options. Download here: WordTalk http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/w9WzyAvCnPHh6r72HSWDPj.jpg 3. Natural Readerhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png Novel text-to-speech software with built-in OCR and its own dedicated web browser Natural Reader can be used in a couple of ways. The first option is to load documents into its library and have them read aloud from there. This is a neat way to manage multiple files, and the number of supported file types is impressive, including ebook formats. There's also OCR, which enables you to load up a photo or scan of text, and have it read to you. The second option takes the form of a floating toolbar. In this mode, you can highlight text in any application and use the toolbar controls to start and customize text-to-speech – this means you can very easily use the feature in your web browser, word processor and a range of other programs. There's also a built-in browser to convert web content to speech more easily. Download here: Natural Reader http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jQ7452zjEiHjc7G8Mywi8D.jpg 4. Zabaware Text-to-Speech Readerhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png Despite its basic looks, Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader has more to offer than you might first think. You can open numerous file formats directly in the program, or just copy and paste text. Alternatively, as long as you have the program running and the relevant option enables, Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader can read aloud any text you copy to the clipboard – great if you want to convert web sites to speech – as well as dialog boxes that pop up Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader can also convert text files to WAV format. Unfortunately the selection of voices is limited, and the only settings you can customize are volume and speed unless you burrow deep into settings to fiddle with pronunciations. Additional voices are available for a US$25 fee (about £20, AU$30), which seems rather steep. Download here: Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/FgZzgYHicfiN3xVJhNKjwf.jpg 5. Panopretor Basichttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z3NPEW36KgeQUzUqXReN6.png Panopreter Basic lives up to its name, delivering text-to-speech conversion without frills. The list of supported file types is a little disappointing (no DOCX, for instance), as is the level of voice customization. Aside from choosing a language, volume and speed, there's nothing to adjust. When you compare this to the range of personalisation that can be achieved in other text-to-speech program, it's a little disappointing. You do have the option of converting text to WAV format so you can listen to it when on the move, but it's a shame to find that MP3 isn't supported. The dual-pane layout of the program isn't particularly pleasant to work with either; it feels like there is a lot of space wasted unless you happen to be both listening to text-to-speech conversion there and then, and also converting to audio file. It gets the job done, but there are better tools out there. Download here: Panopreter Basic http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/jNB8UbjP20A

Microsoft has made its usual end of the month post concerning what’s new with Office 365, and the major fresh addition which has just happened for March is co-authoring support in Excel. Yes, co-authoring support is now live for Excel on Windows desktop PCs, or at least it is for testers only at the moment (those on the fast ring of the Office Insiders program). That means you can collaboratively work with others on the same spreadsheet and see their changes more or less in real-time, within seconds of them being made. Just the same as when collaborating on a Word document. Microsoft’s getting feedback from testers at the moment, and it will roll the feature out more broadly soon enough. Note that co-authoring is already available in the web version of Excel, and its mobile apps (Android, iOS, Windows Mobile), but this is new for desktop machines. As well as Windows, Microsoft notes it’s also working on co-authoring in Excel for the Mac. Autosaving the daySo what else is new? Microsoft has also introduced autosaving to Word, Excel and PowerPoint on Windows desktops, where files stored in OneDrive or SharePoint Online are concerned. In other words, you don’t have to worry about habitually hitting save, as it will automatically be done for you (and indeed the other users who may be collaboratively working on a file with you). Microsoft also reminded us that the Teams messaging and collaboration app is now live for Office 365 business subscribers, and Office 365 Education users – and that in excess of 150 integrations with third-party apps and services are already available, or coming soon. And Microsoft Bookings, the app which helps small businesses schedule and manage appointments with customers, is now rolling out worldwide for Office 365 Business Premium subscribers (previously it was US and Canada only). Other minor tweaks have been made to Office 365 apps, such as inking updates for OneNote. For example, you can now jot down an equation in OneNote, select it, and have the app display a graph of it – and indeed it can teach you how to solve the equation. For the full list of every little change and tweak, check out Microsoft’s blog post. Are you running Office 365 on one of our best business laptops?http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/IGveRuRjuLw

Almost half a year after its original US release, Google Home is finally about to make its way across the pond to the UK. As we all know, although the UK and US might speak the same language, there are a number of cultural differences between the two countries. We put Google Home through its paces to work out if it’s earned its place in the UK, from testing its knowledge of British pop songs such as ‘Fix Up Look Sharp’ by Dizzee Rascal, to quizzing it on the nearest ‘chippy’ (that’s a Fish and Chip shop for all you non-Brits out there). Check out how it performed below: Check out our full Google Home review.http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/1t4CjlMPrJA

Facebook is going all in on a new suite of features for sharing your goings-on with friends without cluttering your News Feed with images only meant to be seen once. Specifically, the social network is adding special filters and masks to its camera feature, as well as Stories for sharing single-view images, video, or replies atop your News Feed that disappear after 24 hours. Facebook is also allowing its users to send Stories to just a select person or group of people with another feature called Direct, should you not want to share pics from your latest bar escapades with just anyone. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VSbPpVWDNuJK7D9t3iGLVN.jpg By this point, you've likely drawn a similarity or five between Facebook's newest update and a certain picture-sharing app. However, it comes as no surprise, as past tests have made it apparent that the Big Blue F was planning to emulate Snapchat's ephemeral image-posting style. While this is first time we've seen these features on Facebook proper, the site's Messenger app has had its own take on 24-hour snippets for a while now. The Facebook-owned service Instagram has also been using a similar feature for nearly a year now. Facebook's new snap-swapping features will roll out over the course of this week to both iOS and Android users of the app. For those who already use Snapchat, not every feature has been copied by Facebook just yet, such as...um...its featured Stories from magazines like Cosmopolitan and Esquire. Our review of Snapchat Spectacleshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/K9-0-zqGh3I

Google Home is among the most interesting of the search king's current hardware offerings, not least because it sets the stage for an epic showdown between two tech giants. What is Google Home? Put simply it's a smart speaker, but one that's aimed at pulling together the big G's smart home and audio visual offerings, both past and present. Not only that, it also draws from Google's formidable experience in search to offer information when you want it, where you want it. Google, however, isn't alone in offering a smart speaker: the Amazon Echo has taken off as a way to interact with the smart home and beyond. Echo has sold surprisingly well, and even spurred a whole line of Echo-compatible products. As good as Echo is, we think the new kid on the block stands a good chance of silencing its reign. Here are five reasons we think Google Home is the product to dethrone the mighty Echo. 1. Home connects to your Google-built lifeAmazon's ecosystem is growing, but it's nothing like Google's just yet. Google has come a long way since it started as a humble search engine, and it now offers a multitude of products and services primed to work with Home. Many of those, unsurprisingly, live on the internet. This connectivity makes it easy for Home to access services you use regularly, such Calendar, Contacts, and Play Music. If you're an avid Android user, you're already plugged into the Google ecosystem, and Home is just another way to tap into some of Google's most-used services. It is, some would argue, even easier because you can use your voice to do so. Amazon Echo does work with Google Calendar, but its functionality is limited, and Google is likely to ensure that all of its products play nice together, just like they do, to an extent, with Google Now on Android. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/1e3601cd41ba204b3c3e2e954fe51b45.jpg 2. Home is smart. Really smart.Amazon ain't no search giant, that's for sure. Google was built as a hub of information - nearly all freely available information in the world is accessible with a quick search thanks to the G team. Google's had a voice assistant for some time, activated with the simple "OK, Google" command. Google Now is often hailed as an excellent voice assistant, however it's taken a back seat to the more widely publicized Siri. Thanks to search and voice, Google Home has an advantage when it comes to smarts. Sure, Amazon Echo has the technology behind it, but it doesn't have the data. Google possess almost two decades worth of information-gathering prowess to back its assistant up, which is sure to show with Google Home. Google's new voice-controlled assistant, aptly called Google Assistant, will draw from the company's past experience in recognizing the human voice. Not only does it understand language, but it also picks up context. By tapping into its contextual understanding, Google Assistant can figure out what you mean in a grammatically ambiguous request. This will save you time and breath in having to repeat the same words over and over again, plus get you information more readily. 3. Customize your Google HomeThis might not be a big deal for some, but for others bringing a new device into their home that doesn't match the decor is a deal breaker. Customization isn't going to be the feature to win me over, but as we expect more personal options with our tech (take the Moto X and new Live Cases for Nexus phones, for example), it will increasingly become the norm. Google Home is no exception. Just what can you customize on your Google Home? Well, it's not much, but it's something. With Home, you can change out the base of the device to different colors and designs. Or, you could give it the Apple treatment and keep the sleek white look that it comes with. Amazon Echo comes in one shade, and while its design is no doubt sleek, it doesn't have the same personalization options that Google Home offers buyers. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/83a3bd326b8a44726def17bc7e37eb45.jpg 4. Google Home isn't 'Google Room'The Amazon Echo may be a great device, but you'd better put it in the room you spend the most time in as you can't, for example, sync multiple Echo devices to play the same song throughout the house. Google Home, however, draws from Google's already stellar smart media offerings and lets you connect the device to Google Chromecast-based speakers, so you can listen to audio throughout your abode. Google Home doesn't quite have a better native speaker than Amazon Echo, but one thing is for sure: by connecting with Chromecast audio, you can open your Home to a range of hi-fi speakers. Perhaps more importantly than music though is the fact that Home connects to your wider smart home, namely Nest and Works with Nest devices. Not only can you control your smart thermostat with the little speaker, but you can also connect to your lighting, locks, and other smart home amenities. Google is constantly adding new Works with Nest products, so the list is growing all the time. Amazon did team up with Samsung to offer SmartThings control to Echo and the Philips's Hue lighting system, but it's still in the early stages of broadening its friend list. Even though it's been on the scene for longer, Echo has a long way to go before it can catch up with all the devices Google already has at its fingertips. 5. Google Home is ready to play with othersAs I've mentioned, Google Home will work well with Works with Nest products, but it looks as though Google is poised have as many other companies sync up with its voice platform as it can. Even at its original launch event, Google was keen to talk up the amount of companies it was going to work with, with a splash screen that included TicketMaster, WhatsApp, Pandora, GrubHub, Instacart, OpenTablet, Uber and Spotify. Amazon Echo, meanwhile, is growing its list of compatible apps, including Domino's Pizza, Uber and 1-800 Flowers, but the sheer might of Google may have already tipped the scale in Home's favor. It will likely be a race to see who can sign up the most third-party apps with the most worthwhile functionality going forward, but both are keen to have their speakers performing as many tasks as possible. ConclusionWhile we'll just have to wait to see which smart speaker comes out on top in the long run. Amazon undoubtedly has a head-start, but Google Home has the might of the world's biggest search giant behind it. The Echo laid the groundwork for home assistants, but Google is ready to swoop in and do what it does best: serve up information and manage your digital life. Home is also slightly more affordable, too, which is another notch in its belt against Echo. Just don't expect to be able to order products from Amazon on Home. That's one strike Google's smart speaker has against it. More coverage: Google Home vs Amazon Echohttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/767NW29y5Bs

It's official, we now have a Google Home release date for the UK - you'll be able to get your hands on Google's Smart Assistant from April 6. The Google Home price is £129, and Google promises a load of 'Easter Eggs' hidden in the device to give it a more British feel - we'll find out what treats it has in store - we're hoping for a Cockney rhyming slang translator and an instant fish n'chips finder. You can trigger home by saying "Okay Google" and then speaking whatever command you wish - whether that's "do I need an umbrella today?", "turn on the lounge lights" or "turn the heating up, it's bloody freezing". It can do much more, such as playing music and setting timers, so check out our Google Home review to find out. It goes directly up against Amazon Echo, which has already established itself in a number of homes, and it will be interesting to see if Google can properly challenge with its later arrival. Google WiFi UK release dateThe UK is being treated to a new router too, with a Google WiFi release date of April 6 also announced at the same event. Google WiFi allows you to create a mesh network by using multiples of the device to give you a wide, strong internet connection throughout the home. In terms of the Google WiFi price you're looking at £129 for a one pack and £229 for the two pack. Read our reviews: Google WiFi | Google Home reviewhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/5iw55FFo2oY